Golfers across Wales are being encouraged to make this Saturday, June 7th, the biggest day of the year for a round of golf, as Wales Golf aims to set a new record for participation – dubbing it “Wales Golf Day.”
Key Takeaways
- Record Attempt This Saturday: Welsh golfers are urged to play this Saturday, June 7th (“Wales Golf Day”), to help set a new national record for the most rounds played in a single day.
- Golf is Growing in Wales: Last year saw a record 9,073 rounds on the equivalent Saturday, with overall golf participation and submitted scores significantly increasing across Wales.
- Focus on Female & Junior Golf: There’s a special encouragement for women and girls to play, inspired by the upcoming AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, alongside junior events like the PING Welsh Junior Tour.
- Support Your Handicap & Welsh Golf: Playing and submitting your score helps ensure accurate handicaps under the World Handicap System and provides valuable data for Wales Golf’s future strategies.
Last year, an impressive 9,073 rounds were recorded on the equivalent Saturday (June 8, 2024), marking a record for a single day.
This contributed to a landmark year which saw the most competitive rounds of golf played overall in Wales since records began under the World Handicap System (WHS).
With an incredible 636,569 rounds submitted for handicap purposes through the summer of 2024 and the subsequent winter into 2025 – an increase of around 40,000 from the previous record – the passion for golf in Wales is clearly booming.
“It would be great to see a huge number of people out on the great courses around Wales this Saturday,” said Sandy Veale, Wales Golf Operations and Handicapping Manager.
“The introduction of the World Handicap System a few years ago gave us the chance to really monitor who is playing for the first time, and now we have got a few years to be able to compare the figures. The good news is that the number of rounds of golf being played in Wales is going up, with that early Saturday in June as the most popular single day.”
The statistics also reveal some fascinating insights: the average handicap in Wales is approximately 22, while a notable 6,613 players boast a single-figure handicap. And for the truly dedicated, 13 players even submitted a card on Christmas Day last year!
A Big Year for Women’s Golf in Wales
With the AIG Women’s Open being hosted at Royal Porthcawl from July 30th to August 3rd – the biggest female sporting event ever hosted in Wales – there’s a special call for women and girls to get involved.
“It would be good if as many women and girls as possible were inspired by having the world’s best players appearing on Welsh soil and become part of the increased figures for this year as we try to set a new record,” added Veale.
Younger players will also be out in force on June 7th, with a PING Welsh Junior Tour event taking place at Pwllheli Golf Club. This follows a record entry of well over 100 young golfers at the last event held at Llanishen Golf Club in Cardiff.
More Than Just Numbers
While setting records is a fun challenge, Wales Golf emphasises the broader benefits. “The World Handicap System works best when players submit as many rounds as possible, to ensure that handicaps are as accurate as possible,”
Veale explained. “Also it allows us in Wales Golf to monitor what is going on around Wales and get an accurate picture, which helps influence our strategies going forward under our motto of Everyone’s Game: For Fun, For Sport, For Life.”
Unsurprisingly, June was the busiest month for golf last year, with over 100,000 rounds played. Encouragingly, over a quarter of scores submitted were from general play, showcasing the flexibility of the WHS, and around 10% were for 9-hole rounds – a trend authorities are keen to support for those with less time.
So, if you’re in Wales this Saturday, June 7th, why not head to your local club, enjoy a round, submit your score, and be part of a potential record-breaking day for Welsh golf!
Don’t Miss the AIG Women’s Open: Tickets to watch the world’s best female golfers at Royal Porthcawl (30 July – 3 August 2025) are available to purchase from £20 at aigwomensopen.com, with children under 16 free when accompanied by a paying adult.
